Leland+ Content Library
M7 MBA Essay Question Bank: Prompts by School (2024–25)
A reference guide to official M7 MBA essay prompts — organized by school. Covers all seven programs with each school’s full prompt list, word counts, what the admissions committee is actually evaluating per prompt, the most common mistakes that cost applicants, and strategic tips on what each school’s adcom is really looking for. Includes a format comparison table and universal essay principles that apply across all M7 applications.
From Field to Framework: Crafting a Civilian-Ready MBA Resume
Military experience translates powerfully to MBA admissions when it’s framed in the language schools understand. This session shows you how to convert roles, missions, and outcomes into civilian-ready impact, highlight leadership and decision-making, and align your resume with post-MBA goals. You’ll learn how to quantify results, choose the right stories, and avoid common translation pitfalls so your resume clearly signals readiness for top programs.
Deferred MBA (2+2) Week
Ace Your S&T Interview: Technicals, Brainteasers, and Market Questions
Ace Your S&T Interview Guide is the no-fluff prep manual for candidates who want to stand out in Sales & Trading interviews. It combines the technical knowledge firms expect with the market judgment, communication style, and fast-thinking problem solving that actually win offers. Whether you need to tighten your stock pitch, master rates and valuation, or get sharper on interview-style brainteasers, this guide is designed to help you perform with confidence and edge.
Crack the IB Technicals: 10 Questions You Must Be Prepared to Answer
Get ready to master the core technical questions that consistently show up in investment banking interviews. In this session, we’ll walk through the 10 fundamentals—valuation, accounting, enterprise value, DCFs, accretion/dilution, and more—that every strong IB candidate must be able to explain with clarity and confidence. You’ll learn how interviewers evaluate your answers, what separates a solid response from a great one, and how to practice effectively so you can walk into recruiting season fully prepared.
What You NEED to Know Before Submitting Your BYU App (From a Former Admissions Officer)
Get an inside look at how BYU evaluates applications from someone who used to help make the decisions. In this session, expert Leland coach and former BYU’s Admissions Committee Christian H. will break down what truly matters in your essays, activities, and recommendations—and what applicants often misunderstand. You’ll learn how to present your story with authenticity, avoid common red flags, and highlight the qualities BYU values most. Perfect for anyone who wants to maximize their chances before hitting “submit.”
Scoring Your First Job Post Graduation
Landing your first job after graduation can be one of the most exciting—but also most uncertain—steps in your career journey. In this session—hosted in partnership with Interstride—you’ll hear directly from Matthew M. (Ex BCG, Dalberg), Kira D. (Ex Disney, Dreamworks), and Connie M. (Founder of Career Coaching Program) about what employers are really looking for in new graduates. We’ll cover how to identify the right roles, tailor your applications, and stand out during interviews and networking opportunities. This session will give you actionable insights to help you confidently launch your career!
Product Management Recruiting: Ask Me Anything
No slides, no script—just real talk. In this open Q&A session, join PM coach Rosaalie S. for the chance to ask anything about breaking into product management. From resumes and referrals to interview prep and offer negotiations, nothing is off the table. Whether you're exploring your first APM program or navigating a career pivot into PM, this session is your space to get honest answers and practical advice from someone who’s been in your shoes (and made it through). Bring your questions and prepare to gain insights!
Choosing Your Target Law Schools
Selecting the right law schools is one of the most important steps in shaping a successful application strategy. In this session, UCLA Law Alum and Law Review Editor Michael S. will guide you through factors to consider, including program strengths, culture, location, and career outcomes. You’ll learn how to match your profile to schools where you’ll be both competitive and fulfilled, and how to prioritize applications to maximize your chances of admission. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for identifying and targeting the schools that align best with your goals.
Get Started on Your Deferred MBA Panel: Actionable Tips from Experts
Kick off your Deferred MBA journey with a panel of top Leland coaches who have helped countless applicants earn admits to programs like HBS 2+2, GSB Deferred, and Wharton Advance Access. They’ll break down what you should be doing right now—from crafting your narrative to securing impactful recommenders—to stay competitive ahead of this year’s deadlines. You’ll leave with clear, actionable next steps to start your application strong.
Making Your “Why This School” Essays Impossible to Ignore
“Why this school?” is one of the most common—and most poorly executed—application essays. In this session, expert Leland coach and former AdComs at Chicago Booth Tim F. will break down what admissions committees actually look for and why generic answers fall flat. You’ll learn how to research programs deeply, connect your goals to specific resources, and write essays that feel personal, credible, and impossible to ignore.
Positioning Your Military Experience for an MBA
Military experience can be a powerful differentiator in MBA admissions when it is translated clearly into leadership, impact, and future potential. This session will show you how to reframe service roles into business-ready language, quantify outcomes, and connect your experience to post-MBA goals that resonate with top programs. We’ll cover essays, resumes, recommendations, and interview positioning, along with common pitfalls veterans face and how to avoid them.
Next Cycle, New Reality: Preparing for Law School Admissions in 2026-2027
Law school admissions continue to evolve, with shifting applicant volumes, changing evaluation priorities, and increasing competition at top programs. In this session, we’ll break down what to expect in the 2026–2027 cycle, how to interpret trends in LSAT scores and medians, and what admissions committees are prioritizing beyond the numbers. You’ll learn how to build a smart timeline, strengthen your narrative, and position yourself strategically in a competitive landscape.
How to Build a Winning MBA Application
Many MBA applicants have strong profiles but struggle to bring all the pieces together into a cohesive, competitive application. This session is designed for candidates who want to understand how admissions committees evaluate applicants across essays, resumes, recommendations, and interviews. You’ll learn how to define clear career goals, build a compelling narrative, and position your experiences in a way that demonstrates leadership, impact, and fit with your target programs.
The Deferred Blueprint: A Detailed Guide to Breaking into M7 as a Deferred Applicant
Applying to deferred MBA programs can feel like a black box—especially when it comes to the ultra-competitive M7 schools. In this session, expert coach Tim F. will break down exactly what it takes to stand out as a deferred applicant. By the end, you’ll have a step-by-step blueprint for building a competitive application and putting yourself on the fast track to an M7 admit.
The Scorecard: How You Are Graded in The Case Interview
What is the interviewer writing down while you speak? In this lesson, we look at the specific rubric used to evaluate candidates. I’ll walk you through the scoring dimensions—from analytics to presence—so you can tailor your performance to hit the exact metrics decision-makers like myself are trained to look for.
Free
Do Your Deferred MBA in Spain: Interview with IESE Admissions Director
Join Jesse L., a Leland Top 10 MBA coach for international applicants, for a live interview with Patrik Wallén, MBA Admissions Director at IESE Business School (ranked #3 in the world by the Financial Times), followed by an open audience Q&A. This will be the first interview focused primarily on IESE’s Young Talent Path (YTP), IESE’s early-career, deferred-style pathway that ultimately leads into the full-time MBA. While the main focus is on YTP, this session will also be highly valuable for any applicant considering IESE, as it offers direct insight into IESE’s admissions philosophy, values, career development, and case-method-based MBA program. ✨ What makes IESE’s YTP unique Unlike most U.S.-based deferred MBA (DMBA) programs that require candidates to apply during their final undergraduate year or while completing a graduate degree, IESE allows applicants to apply both during their senior year and after graduation, with up to two years of full-time work experience. This makes YTP accessible to a broader group of early-career professionals who may not have been ready to apply as seniors. In this conversation, Jesse will interview Patrik on how YTP works in practice, how candidates are evaluated, and how YTP admits transition into the regular IESE MBA. We will also cover the support IESE provides to YTP admits during the deferral period, including engagement with the school, career guidance, and preparation for joining the MBA cohort. 📌 Topics will include: • What the Young Talent Path (YTP) is and how it compares to other deferred MBA-style programs • Who YTP is designed for and how candidates are assessed • Applying to YTP after graduation with less than two years of experience • What admission through YTP means in practice • How IESE supports YTP admits during the deferral period • How and when YTP participants join the full-time IESE MBA • What the IESE MBA experience looks like • Live audience Q&A 🎯 Who should attend This session is designed to give applicants real clarity on YTP and the IESE MBA, directly from the source.
8 Steps to Complete MBA App: 2) Key Stories/Strategic School Outreach
Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the second of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will turn your experiences into structured story summaries and begin strategic outreach to students and alumni. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you focused and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 2 transforms your experiences into structured story material and begins meaningful school outreach: • Distill 10–20 high-impact stories from your Life Story Timeline using a structured framework. • Learn how to select stories that reveal leadership, growth, resilience, and character. • Apply tagging to identify recurring themes that will shape your positioning. • Begin outreach to current students and alumni. This is the phase where your raw experiences begin turning into usable material. You move from “I’ve done a lot” to “Here are the defining stories that show exactly who I am.” The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to develop a compelling story bank and begin connecting with your target schools in a thoughtful, intentional way, this is your next step.
8 Steps to a Complete MBA App: 3) Core Values, Superpowers & LOR Strategy
Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the third of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will identify your core values and defining strengths and begin aligning your Letters of Recommendation with your overall narrative. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to attend individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 3 clarifies your defining characteristic and begins the recommendation process: • Identify 3–5 core values and superpowers that consistently appear across your key stories. • Define what each strength truly means in your life and how it shows up in action. • Ensure your positioning reflects who you actually are, not who you think admissions wants you to be. • Learn how to select recommenders and ensure strong narrative alignment. This is the phase where your stories become identity. Instead of a collection of experiences, you now articulate the defining qualities that connect your past, present, and future. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to clarify what truly defines you and ensure your recommendations reinforce your positioning, this is your next step.
8 Steps to an MBA App: 3) Core Values, Superpowers & LOR Strategy
Applying to business school can feel overwhelming! You have dozens of moving pieces: essays, short answers, video content, resume, recommendations, outreach, research, and more. This workshop is the third of a structured 8-part MBA Identity Mapping series designed to take you from fragmented tasks to a clear plan of action. In this session, you will identify your core values and defining strengths and begin aligning your Letters of Recommendation with your overall narrative. These sessions walk you step by step through building one fully aligned MBA application. In every workshop, you will be assigned tasks to complete over the next two weeks, keeping you organized and accountable. By the end, you will have strong, authentic essays and a cohesive narrative that runs consistently through your resume, goals, recommendations, school strategy, and interviews. You are absolutely welcome to watch individual sessions if you only need focused help on a specific component(s) of your MBA application. Event 3 clarifies your defining characteristic and begins the recommendation process: • Identify 3–5 core values and superpowers that consistently appear across your key stories. • Define what each strength truly means in your life and how it shows up in action. • Ensure your positioning reflects who you actually are, not who you think admissions wants you to be. • Learn how to select recommenders and ensure strong narrative alignment. This is the phase where your stories become identity. Instead of a collection of experiences, you now articulate the defining qualities that connect your past, present, and future. The MBA Identity Mapping process has guided 100+ applicants into every M7 program, all other top 20 U.S. programs, and leading international programs including INSEAD, London Business School, IESE, Esade, Oxford, Cambridge, NUS, and more. Clients consistently describe it as transformative because it replaces scattered effort with forward momentum and strategic clarity. If you are ready to clarify what truly defines you and ensure your recommendations reinforce your positioning, this is your next step.
